Any attempt to defend the high losses of my Luftwaffe would seem foolish, but Sillyflower, I do have a reasonable retort to your frank criticism.

First, Belphegor had a very effectice air strategy. Any missions (gound bombing, ground support and fuel supply) unescorted by fighters were ravaged. I unwisely ignored it for awhile. He forced me to stack airfields with fighters so all misions were esorted. This did reduce my use of the airforce.

Second, you've got to use the Luftwaffe (bomber type) in some way, or it might as well not exist. Pelton makes this point constantly. I was very effective in ground support and air refueling. Obviously at some cost.

Finally, the options of how to best use the Luftwaffe in '41 is seldom discussed (apart from air refueling ... wasn't Sapper the first to mention this ??? ) This might stimulate things. My mistakes will help others. I wish this wasn't the case.

But goodness gracious Sillyflower. Snoopy in a Sopwith ??? A kindergartener could do better. Give me a break; I have to deal with enough of them every day.

I was surprised by THEPROS wholesale migration from the front lines of all but the minimum needed units. I marked the big areas of builups. The biggest, by far, is southeast of Rostov. I guess this gives them an option of a big push thru the Crimea.

At first glance it seems to be "All Quiet On The Eastern Front", (Remarque's novel of WWI , 25 years earlier and 2000 miles west of this conflict, which interestingly, was required reading in Hx of West Civ in my undergraduate education, is a must read by any war buff), but is not the case. Per an early post by Flaviusx, both sides are constantly converting hexes between the opposing lines; re-establishing a buffer zone of safety. It's a little tactic that can make a big difference for the defender. You can see the hexes that are under German control after my turn.

1) AGN will be secure. The Finns will hold the Volkov-anchored line, There is a 3 hex wide span immediately north of Lake Ilmen that German units can only protect, but it can be weakly held because 1) any attack thru such a narrow front can be easily pinched off and 2) this area offers safe havens for up to 12 divisions which can be easily put to use if needed.

2) This leaves 80 hexes twix Lake Ilmen and the Black Sea. My plans are an ultra-conservative approach, which I know will get a severe tongue lashing from MT

A) The northern-most 20 hexes will have level 2 or stronger forts with a double row of forts in the first 6-7 hexes. This line cannot be assaulted until late Dec/early Jan and should hold thru late blizzard. I will probably not hold the mountains

B) The southern-most 20 hexes anchored on the Black Sea will similarly have level 2 or stronger forts. Since this line is 20 or so hexes from the present front line, it will certainly secure this sector.

C) The central 40 hexes will be covered by a continous line of units retereating 2 hexes or so a turn.

D) With roughly 105 German infantry divisions, 30 Pz/Mot divisions, and 8-10 regiments working with 40 weak Allied units (those not needed for garrision duty), all backed up by a reserve of 10 mountain reg/div's to defend these 80 hexes, any blizzard offense will be contained.

"All Quiet On The Eastern Front", (Remarque's novel of WWI , 25 years earlier and 2000 miles west of this conflict, which interestingly, was required reading in Hx of West Civ in my undergraduate education, is a must read by any war buff),

And turned into a very powerful film ages ago but I can't remember the date. Have watched it many times.

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web exchange

Post: I am always fearful that when I put this game down on the table and people see the box-art they will think I am some kind of neo-Nazi

Reply: They already know you're a gamer. What other shame can possibly compare?

1) AGN will be secure. The Finns will hold the Volkov-anchored line, There is a 3 hex wide span immediately north of Lake Ilmen that German units can only protect, but it can be weakly held because 1) any attack thru such a narrow front can be easily pinched off and 2) this area offers safe havens for up to 12 divisions which can be easily put to use if needed.

2) This leaves 80 hexes twix Lake Ilmen and the Black Sea. My plans are an ultra-conservative approach, which I know will get a severe tongue lashing from MT

A) The northern-most 20 hexes will have level 2 or stronger forts with a double row of forts in the first 6-7 hexes. This line cannot be assaulted until late Dec/early Jan and should hold thru late blizzard. I will probably not hold the mountains

B) The southern-most 20 hexes anchored on the Black Sea will similarly have level 2 or stronger forts. Since this line is 20 or so hexes from the present front line, it will certainly secure this sector.

C) The central 40 hexes will be covered by a continous line of units retereating 2 hexes or so a turn.

D) With roughly 105 German infantry divisions, 30 Pz/Mot divisions, and 8-10 regiments working with 40 weak Allied units (those not needed for garrision duty), all backed up by a reserve of 10 mountain reg/div's to defend these 80 hexes, any blizzard offense will be contained.

I've been playing a large number of trial runs thru blizzard, but it seems that a continuous defensive line with 2 units a hex acts like a rubberband; will stretch as it gets pushed back but can't break. A line with single units will break. Am I correct ???

I've been playing a large number of trial runs thru blizzard, but it seems that a continuous defensive line with 2 units a hex acts like a rubberband; will stretch as it gets pushed back but can't break. A line with single units will break. Am I correct ???

Your about to find out. Lines north of Oka I will agree but south of that nothing is safe.

Beware Sillyflower, you still don't know who (me) and what (cuniculus) your're dealing with. And it's going to be double trouble in the tundra...

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Yes I have many scars to show how deadly this weapon is. I'm not referring to the impeti cuniculus, but to living horror I experience from the impact of PMS on my wife, 5 daughters, 16 female employess, dozens of nurses, and legions of mothers.

Sillyflower, I apologize and take back that insult in which I compared you to a kindergartener. It's ok if you act like one. I need the repreive.

Innovative I grant you, but what on earth makes you think they will take any notice of, let alone obey, you after you withdraw the progesterone???? Looks like they will be as useful as those anti tank dogs the Russians trained by teaching them to run under T34s

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web exchange

Post: I am always fearful that when I put this game down on the table and people see the box-art they will think I am some kind of neo-Nazi

Reply: They already know you're a gamer. What other shame can possibly compare?

I've been playing a large number of trial runs thru blizzard, but it seems that a continuous defensive line with 2 units a hex acts like a rubberband; will stretch as it gets pushed back but can't break. A line with single units will break. Am I correct ???

I agree with Pelton - this will work in the north where you have good terrain to fight on but in the south or any clear terrain its a recipe for losing lots of units!

Don't fall for Sillyflower's trap. He is trying to challenge your manhood and make you feel compelled to fight forward. Don't do it - it's exactly what he and Sean want!

Smokindave, a man can only take so much. I've been pushed around by THEPROS too much !! Sorry Sean, you're going down even though it's not really your fault. Many have been duped by such a man, a man named Sillyflower !!!

I have a gorgeous garden a home. I have over 50 amarillos under a pine tree, each with 2-3 stalks of 2-3 blooms each. Their blazing scarlet red color does not come out in this pic. It's spectacular !!! These are a sample with blooms over 10 inches across !!